Chapter 7

"We're all counting on his... Devine Intervention!"
Matthew Sweet Good Friend Album. Volcano Entertainment, 1991. 191st Remove.

"Quick! Let's go check out where that came from."

The 3 young men set out toward the plume of smoke. Initially with excitement, the young men realized they needed to be cautious. "Whoever set off that second explosion is probably still around. We don't want to come up on anyone willing to protect their claim. But still, we keep an eye out." Ben encouraged his brothers to keep a quick pace and stay alert. "It's odd that we are just now seeing renewed prospecting here... There hasn't been any interest here since I don't remember when."

"Pa said no one ever had any claim on any of these caves. Maybe if we get there, maybe we could find out if anyone else has laid a claim?"

Quickly they scurried to a perch where they could see the disipating smoke and dust. Sitting for almost 3 hours, the boys all watched the cave mouth waiting for someone to either emerge from or enter into the cave.

No one ever did.

As the day had worn on til almost noon, the Ben took charge, "Joeseph, you stay here. Keep an eye on that cave opening." he said with an almost paternal tone. "Jonathan and I will go down to see what we can find."

"What if I see someone? What if someone finds you? What should I do?" Joseph seemed a bit aghast & flustered.

"You'll think of something. You always do." Jonathan slapped his brother's shoulder with more than a hint of sarcastic encouragement. Ben & Jonathan grabbed a few branches for makeshift clubs and walking sticks. A few moments later, the two had disappeared from view into the thick mass of trees just below their observation post.

Joseph sat for what felt like an eternity. Eventually, he saw what looked like his brothers surface just below the cave mouth. Only one entered while it appeared the other stood outside to keep watch. Another small eternity passed and the one keeping watch quickly darted into the cave. At this distance they were unrecognizable and he only assumed the two figures he saw were Ben & Jonathan.

The two were in the cave for at least 5 minutes. Shortly after, another figure came out of the woods to the left and seemed to wander around just outside the mouth of the cave before suddenly running back off from where it came.

Joseph mumbled a quick prayer for this brothers if those were indeed Ben & Jonathan. Joseph's mouth was suddenly parched. He watched in horror wondering what would happen if this other figure intercepted them.

Almost immediately, the two figures exited the cave. One seemed to leap into the air before they both sprinted back into the woods out of sight. Joseph somewhat certain he would see his brothers return sat to wait and watch.

* * *

"We found!" Jonathan gasped "We!" out of breath and holding his side, Ben trotting up behind him, "We found ... GOLD!"

Joseph was already standing when the two ran up. "Coal?" somewhat confused by Jonathan's gasping.

"GOLD!" Ben clarified holding out a few small nuggets in his hand as Jonathan collapsed into an exhausted coughing fit. Both were feeling the after effects of an adrynaline fueled sprint. Jonathan grimaced and nodded in pain-filled delight.

Joseph's eyes widened. "Are we rich?" He dove to hug his brothers. Falling on Ben's neck, the three of them wept for joy.

As the moments wore on, the three brothers began to conspire how they would keep this secret.

"But, Jonathan... Ben! I saw someone else." Joseph said soberly.

"What do you mean, 'Someone else?'" Jonathan's gaze met his twin. Joseph's eyes darted between the Ben & Jonathan.

"Someone else showed up shortly after you whoever was standing watch went into the cave," Joseph explained, "They wandered around just outside the cave entrance then seemed to run off." Joseph now pointing to the cave explained exactly what he saw.

As the three brothers were there hearing the account of their distant watchman, they watched as a figure came out of the woods just to the left of the cave mouth. Wandering about the outside of the cave for a few moments and disappearing into the cave. They continued to watch as their stomachs were in knots.

"Is that the man you saw?" Ben placed his hand on Joseph's shoulder and held the nape of his neck to secure his gaze. "Is that him?"

Joseph shuddered silently, "I can't be sure. I suppose so. But there is no way for me to know for sure. He did come from the same direction."

"No matter. We have gold. We may never get any more, but we have what we have! And it is enough." Jonathan said lifting Ben's hand into the circle they had formed. Looking up, they saw the figure emerge from the cave and momentarily pause outside the cave and seemed to be looking around.

A glint of light, like a specular reflection, seemed to come from the figure just before it fled into the woods from whence it came.

"We better go! I have a bad feeling that person may be looking for the two of you. We can only hope he didn't get a good enough look to recognize you." Joseph advised.

The three of them paused for another couple minutes to observe the cave. Ben broke the surreal silence, "We will have to keep this gold secret for now. Maybe we can return and watch the cave for a few weeks. If we see nothing, we can go back to look for more gold."

* * *

Weeks passed.

The three brothers returned regularly. At first they just stood watch from their perch to observe the cave. Over time, they brought all the brothers and began scouring the area for more gold. In numbers this large, it's unlikely anyone would try to attack them. Besides, they brought the Henry lever action. That would give them some edge.

To their knowledge, no one else ever returned

To their chagrin, after a solid four months of searching, they never found any more gold.

To their knowledge, no one had any idea they had found anything... No one except the brothers and their mother. Not even their younger sister was told.